Eire-escape step



Oct. 15, 1929. EHLERS 1,731,300

FIRE ESCAPE STEP Filed Nov. 14, 1927 INVENTOR Eafu arei E'Zfirs,

BY 2 y; AfTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITE EDWARD EHLERS, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY FIRE-ESCAPE STE]? Application filed November 14,1927. Serial No. 233,061.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in fire escape steps, and more particularly to a strong, safe step of light construction made from rolled channel iron or steel.

An object of the invention is to provide a strong fire escape step which is light in weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire escape step of unitary part which is cheap to manufacture and is ready to assemble into the supporting side stringers without previous assembling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent and clear from the foregoing specifications and from the drawing forming part thereof, and from the statements of the appended claims; and the invention also consists in the details of construction and form of the unitary step of the invention all of which will hereinafter be fully set forth and embodied in the claims. The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of one form of the unitary step of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of fire escape ladder embodying the step of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view and an end sectional View of the embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a transvers sectional view of. another embodiment, and Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, section and an end perspective views of the form of Figure 5.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a step 1 made from a rolled channel beam which has been cut transversely to the width of the step. The length of the step from end to end is the width of the channel beam from which it is cut. The

flanges 2, 2 of the channel are provided with holes 3, 3 for riveting the step to side stringers 4, 4 of Figure 2. The channel length are severed or cut from the channel beam by a punching operation and simultaneously with the punching of the step length from the beam transverse sections are out from the web to form the severed step into several slats or bars 5, 5 which are connected together at each end by said flanges 2, 2 on the step sections. In this manner a strong and light fireproof step is cheaply made.

I Referring particularly to Figure 2 of the drawing it will be seen that the ends ofsteps 1, 1 fit snugly to the stringers 41, l even up to the top surface of the step.. This is made possible through the use of angle channel and has the advantage, in the assembled step, of precluding the accumulation of snow or water between the end of the step and the string er such as occurs in the use of sheet iron steps with the consequence that the step rusts and the rivets holding the end of the step rust and make the use of such a construction dangerous.

In Figures 3 and i is illustrated an alternate embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 except that the part punched out between the slats 5, 5 is cut on one long side and the two ends only, and the part or strip 6, 6 defined by these cuts is bent downwardly along the uncut edge to form a reinforcing angle with a corresponding slat 5.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 are illustrated another alternate embodiment somewhat similar to those of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 3 and 4c in which the step blank is cut at the lines 10 and 11 at each corner to provide a free strip, at the front and back, which is bent downwardly throughout its length to provide front and back strengthening flanges 12, 12.

While I have shown and described certain structures and combinations of parts in a unitary step it is to be understood that various modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 7 I 1. A unitary metal step for fire-escapes and the like, comprisingashort length cut entirely across from a rolled iron or steel channel having an intermediate web and side flanges, said web having slots formed therein and extending longitudinally between said flanges, said step having a portion cut away at each corner of a longitudinal side to form a longitudinal step which is bent downwardly at an angle to the corresponding longitudinal edge of the ste 2 A unitary metal step for fire-escapes and the like, comprising a short length cut entirely across from a rolled iron or steel channel having an intermediate web and side flanges, said web having slots formed therein and extending longitudinally between said flanges, the metal at said slots being out along one side and the two ends and then folded downwardly at an angle to said web to form a reinforcing strip said step having a portion cut away at each corner of a longitudinal side to form a longitudinal strip which is bent downwardly at an angle to the corresponding longitudinal edge of the step.

3. A unitary metal step for fire-escapes and the like comprising, a transverse section of a rolled metal channel having an intermediate web and side flanges, said web having a plurality of struck out apertures extending longitudinally between said flanges thereby providing a grated tread and depending reenforcing strips formed by stricking out said apertures, said reinforcing strips serving to strengthen the grated tread of said step.

In testimony, that I claim the invent-ion set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November, 1927.

EDWARD EHLERS. 

